A4: Best drag race launch?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
A4: Best drag race launch?
I've been playing around with drag race launch techniques. One question I have is whether it is faster to turn the traction control off. Having autocrossed and road raced for years, I can say that in those types of racing, you are much quicker with traction control OFF - allowing the tires to slip some.
My seat of the pants feel says that it is also better for a drag race launch to have the traction control off. But, I'd like to get some more opinions to support or refute the findings of my butt-o-meter.
TIA
My seat of the pants feel says that it is also better for a drag race launch to have the traction control off. But, I'd like to get some more opinions to support or refute the findings of my butt-o-meter.
TIA
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 2,040
Likes: 0
From: Collin County Texas
Re: A4: Best drag race launch? (TLewis4095)
I agree also. Having my 'Vette only for 3 weeks, but have been to the local 1/8 mile track twice for about 15 runs.
I have found something interesting about the traction control operation. Seems it has some smarts or at least I don't fully understand the overall operation. My routine is to go through the water box, disengage the T/C, make sure I am in first gear and do a burn out. Creep up to the line, put it into Drive (I forgot that once, kind of embarrassing after you go a few hundred feet….!) and then launch at 1200-1500 rpm's, maybe higher. A few times, my son found that the traction control re-engaged itself after the burn-out and we could only figure it was trying to tell us we had made a mistake and it was going to put it back on. Well, when we saw this happening (if it really was), we started punching the reset button to tell the controller that we really want the T/C off just prior to staging. This seems to work.
In one week, Ennis opens for test and tune and we will be there! Can hardly wait.
I have found something interesting about the traction control operation. Seems it has some smarts or at least I don't fully understand the overall operation. My routine is to go through the water box, disengage the T/C, make sure I am in first gear and do a burn out. Creep up to the line, put it into Drive (I forgot that once, kind of embarrassing after you go a few hundred feet….!) and then launch at 1200-1500 rpm's, maybe higher. A few times, my son found that the traction control re-engaged itself after the burn-out and we could only figure it was trying to tell us we had made a mistake and it was going to put it back on. Well, when we saw this happening (if it really was), we started punching the reset button to tell the controller that we really want the T/C off just prior to staging. This seems to work.
In one week, Ennis opens for test and tune and we will be there! Can hardly wait.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,466
Likes: 0
From: GARDENA Ca, State Of Konfusion
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: A4: Best drag race launch? (Buckmaster)
Absolutelt OFF! If you have AH, I would keep that on though. If the TC was on as soon as your tires spin the car would bog down :( and you would run a 20 sec 1/4 :lol:
I turn off both A/H and T/C, do a massive burn out. Powerbrake while accelerating to 1500 rpms, give it 3/4 throttle at the third yellow, then full throttle. If I give it full throttle at launch, I usually get to much wheel spin (screech) resulting in a slower 60'.
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Drifting
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 1,598
Likes: 1
From: Plano TX
Re: A4: Best drag race launch? (2000^C5)
AH and TC off. Go around the water box and then backup into the water box. Otherwise you pick up water on your front tires which will get under your rear tires at launch. Depending on what tires you've got on the rear will determine your best burnout strategy.
Very simply, I run 15#'s in my Nitto's, light em to 5000 rpm in 1st, shift into second and burn em for about 10 seconds. You should get a nice screech when you let off the brake if their hot enough.
BEFORE STAGING, I check bottle pressure, bottle temp leds, arming switch on led, AC off, TC/AH off, and then use a courtesy staging process where you light the first light, wait for the competition to light their first light, then full stage to two lights, pick up the rpm to 1500 (left foot braking), and then run the three yellows as ready, set, go fast :D
This year my wife/pit crew will be sending me my dial in via two-way radio to put on a dial in board from inside the car when I'm 3rd to go in line. We use the TAG computer for ET prediction.
Hope this helps.
Very simply, I run 15#'s in my Nitto's, light em to 5000 rpm in 1st, shift into second and burn em for about 10 seconds. You should get a nice screech when you let off the brake if their hot enough.
BEFORE STAGING, I check bottle pressure, bottle temp leds, arming switch on led, AC off, TC/AH off, and then use a courtesy staging process where you light the first light, wait for the competition to light their first light, then full stage to two lights, pick up the rpm to 1500 (left foot braking), and then run the three yellows as ready, set, go fast :D
This year my wife/pit crew will be sending me my dial in via two-way radio to put on a dial in board from inside the car when I'm 3rd to go in line. We use the TAG computer for ET prediction.
Hope this helps.
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Bakersfield Ca
Re: A4: Best drag race launch? (oracleguru)
No traction control here. If you have good traction, drag radials or ET streets, and stock trany and converter launch about 1000 rpm. It flashes the converter for a harder hit. If the tires don,t hook, bring the rpm up until the do. If they still won't hold you have to step on it slowly, takes a bit of practice. Hope this helps. Good luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 154
Likes: 0
Re: A4: Best drag race launch? (oracleguru)
Sounds like the butt-o-meter was correct in that OFF is best. Now, sorry to do this, but let me ask another dumb question. Just want to make sure I'm on the right page. I see lots of people recommending a set RPM, e.g., 1500 or thereabouts. Do you use the brake to hold the car at that RPM and then launch? (This is my first automatic... sorry for the newbie-like question.) :D
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 7,294
Likes: 1
From: Coral Springs Florida
Re: A4: Best drag race launch? (dvickrey)
It's going to take a few runs to get it just right.Each track surface will be different but as a rule you can launch at 1200-1500 and then "feather" it out to full throttle depending on track conditions and the power your packin'. ....OR you can just nail it at the third yellow and spin for 60 feet :nono: Just kidding! Have fun and get used the track and your cars response to different rpms.:D
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,466
Likes: 0
From: GARDENA Ca, State Of Konfusion
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: A4: Best drag race launch? (dvickrey)
Sounds like the butt-o-meter was correct in that OFF is best. Now, sorry to do this, but let me ask another dumb question. Just want to make sure I'm on the right page. I see lots of people recommending a set RPM, e.g., 1500 or thereabouts. Do you use the brake to hold the car at that RPM and then launch? (This is my first automatic... sorry for the newbie-like question.) :D
